Warmer Spring Weather Increases Tick Activity in Rochester
As spring temperatures rise in Rochester, the risk of tick activity increases significantly. Ticks, which typically overwinter in the soil, become active as the weather warms. Despite a cold and snowy winter, ticks can survive in decomposing leaf matter and emerge in waves during spring. According to Brian Leydet, an associate professor at SUNY ESF, ticks can be active even when the ground is above freezing. The emergence pattern starts with adult ticks, followed by nymphs, which are smaller but aggressive. These ticks are capable of transmitting diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, posing a health risk to humans. 
